A Conversation

A short list of interesting selections from our inventory. View this email in your browser

Between The Covers Rare Books

illustration by Tom Bloom

a Conversation

with Tom & Ashley

A: [scream-singing] “There’s No Business Like Show Business…!” T: Now what? A: [Ethel Merman impression] An e-list representing the Business of Show! [manic flurry of Jazz Hands] T: Are the extra histrionics absolutely necessary? A: Of course! No extra charge… T: Well, I guess I’ll count my pennies and my blessings. A: [raucously sings] “Takin’ Care of Business…!” T: I’ll leave now.

e End ... ?

eCatalog 52: Show Business 1. [Original Movie Poster]: "His Jazz Bride" Adapted from "The Flapper Wife" Story by Beatrice Burton with Marie Prevost [and] Matt Moore. A Warner Bros. Production [No place]: Warner Bros. [1926] $1000 A striking and whimsical image of a cavorting "Jazz Baby." Released in 1926 and directed by Herman C. Raymaker, the film is today thought to be lost.

2. The Wonder Album of Filmland: A Complete Pictorial Survey of Screenland London: The Amalgamated Press 1933 $75 Lovely illustrated portraits of film stars, many with unusual tinting in green, blue, and other tones.

3. [Two Radio Scripts]: The Special Service Division of the War Department Presents "Bob Hope Show #8" [and] "Bob Hope Show #9" [No place: 1942?] $1200 Scripts have the printed admonition "Restricted for Army Use Only" and both are stamped as "Master Copy as Recorded." Both episodes have elements of a Christmas theme, and starred Frances Langford, Jerry Colona, and Skinny Ennis and his Orchestra.

Read More 4. Anonymous [pseudonym of Anabel Lane] Hollywood Wife New York: G. Howard Watt 1931 $950 Bookplate of actor Jean Hersholt. Exotic tale of Hollywood orgies, it is not clear whether this is fact or fiction, but most likely some combination of both. Inscribed by the author: "To Jean Hersholt, a 'Hollywoodite' whom I am proud to know. Anabel Lane 'Miss Anonymous.'" Laid in is a two-page Autograph Letter Signed from Lane to Hersholt.

5. (Frank CAPRA) In Reference to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington [No place]: Daily Mirror (1939) $250 A sixteen-page promotional booklet for the film, mostly featuring laudatory reviews.

6. Dorothy DANDRIDGE and Earl Conrad Everything and Nothing: The Dorothy Dandridge Tragedy New York: Abelard-Schuman (1970) $85 A scarce autobiographical book prepared by Conrad from taped interviews after Dandridge's death in 1965. The life story of this beautiful and talented performer who was one of the first to break through the intolerance of the Hollywood screen to become a star to white audiences.

Read More 7. Walt DISNEY [Program]: Walt Disney's Fantasia. [Cover title]: Walt Disney Presents Fantasia New York: Walt Disney 1940 $50 First edition.

8. D.W. GRIFFITH United Artist Corporation Checks to D.W. Griffith New York: The Bank of America 1929 & 1933 $225 Two checks made out to D.W. Gritth and D.W. Griffth Inc. Two interesting pieces ephemera from the silent era of American film.

9. Jean HARLOW (Jackman BIEGER) Jean Harlow Scrapbook [Circa 1930s] $5500 A scrapbook dedicated to Jean Harlow containing over a dozen Inscribed photos and six Autograph and Typed Letters Signed by her mother using her name which are prized by Harlow collectors.

Read More 10. Elinor HUGHES Famous Stars of Filmdom (Men) [with] Famous Stars of Filmdom (Women). Illustrated from Autographed Photographs New York: L.C. Page & Company (1931-1932) $450 First editions. Two volumes.

11. Kevin JOHNSON The Dark Page II: Books that Inspired American Film Noir, 1950-1965 New Castle, Delaware: Oak Knoll Press 2009 $95 Signed by the author. A thoroughly researched guide, by a noted bookseller, to the novels and plays which became the basis for all American film noir movies of the 1950s and '60s, with a photograph of each first edition, issue points, etc., accompanying its entry.

12. (Elia KAZAN) [College Yearbook]: Gulielmensian [alternatively *The Gul*] Williamstown MA: Williams College 1930 $350 Senior class yearbook for the Williams College class that included director Elia Kazan.

Read More 13. Ring LARDNER, Jr. [Screenplay]: MASH Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation and Aspen Productions 1968 $1500 The Academy Award-winning screenplay for the black comedy *MASH* written by Ring Lardner, Jr. and based on Richard Hooker's novel of the same name, which followed a group of doctors stationed with a mobile army hospital during the Korean War.

14. Herbert LLOYD Vaudeville Trails Thru the West "By One Who Knows" (Philadelphia): Herbert Lloyd 1919 $850 A gift inscription from vaudevillians Flo and Ollie Walters on the title page. Superb and uncommon guidebook for performers with maps, city grids, detailed theater and hotel recommendations, etc.

15. Norman MAILER Marilyn: A Biography (New York: Grosset and Dunlap 1973) $500 Limited Issue, Signed by Mailer and by Lawrence Schiller on behalf of the photographers.

Read More 16. Vladimir NILSEN The Cinema as a Graphic Art (on the Theory of Representation in the Cinema) (London): Newnes Limited [circa 1936] $200 An important guide to camera work in film.

17. Peter NOBLE The Negro in Films London: Skelton Robinson [1949] $45 First edition.

18. Harold PRINCE (Stephen SONDHEIM) Harold Prince Video and Film Collection 1957-1986 $9500 A collection of film and videos from 1956-1987 relating to legendary Broadway producer and director Harold “Hal” Prince, many featuring Stephen Sondheim productions, and notably including Prince’s own copy of a performance of Pacific Overtures which has never been made available commercially.

Read More 19. Budd SCHULBERG Waterfront New York: Random House 1955 $130 A novelization by Schulberg written in conjunction with his screen story and screenplay for the great Elia Kazan film On the Waterfront featuring Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Rod Steiger, Lee J. Cobb and Eva Marie Saint.

20. Dorothy URIS A Woman's Voice: A Handbook to Successful Private and Public Speaking New York: Stein & Day (1975) $250 Inscribed by the author to noted actress Marian Seldes: "For Marian Seldes who added lustre to my words with her father's. With appreciation & gratitude, Dorothy Uris." The first book listed in the acknowledgments is Marian Seldes's father, Gilbert Seldes's, translation of Lysistrata.

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